Measuring the Size of a Developer's Community?

Travelr9 asks: "I am engaged in a project where upper management is deciding whether to use Linux or Palm OS on a new device. Leaving aside the technical merits of each [in the context of this decision, either could work well] a key question is the size of the developer communities (for both OS and applications) of Linux vs. Palm. I have searched for info on this topic, and have come up blank aside from vague assertions. Is anyone capturing real numbers and stats? This also brings up an interesting conceptual question -- how do you measure the size, quality, impact, etc., of a developer community? Number of bodies isn't enough. Number of apps? Number of lines of code? Frequency of major releases in core application or platform categories? Can you measure a concept like 'quality of developer community' usefully?"

Comments

-1 Troll/Flamebait on the MQR standard

[MarkusQ]

I wasn't sure until I read some of your other posts. You seem to be rather good at the "I might not be pulling your chain..." trolls.

I suppose everyone has to have a hobby.

-- MarkusQ

P.S. Have you considered stamp collecting as a less anoying alternative?

Re:-1 Troll/Flamebait on the MQR standard

[Twirlip of the Mists]

P.S. Have you considered stamp collecting as a less anoying alternative?

Speak for yourself, man. Philately fucking pisses me off.

Twirlip (because too much karma is boring)

typo

[Twirlip of the Mists]

How come nobody else has pointed out the glaring typo in the headline of this article? Cliff wrote "community" when he obviously meant "penis."

Twirlip (because too much karma is boring)